Discussion August 2004

discussion@lists.fsfe.org

5 participants
6 discussions

Barroso Commission announced
by MJ Ray 12 Aug '04

12 Aug '04

I just heard on BBC radio that the next EC has been announced. Viviane REDING (Information Society, LU) and Charlie McCREEVY (Internal Market, IE) are likely to have the most effect on is, based on the current commission. I welcome interesting information about the others and their approach to free software. http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/1030&form… Peter Mandelson (Trade, UK) is a close associate of the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. The UK Patent Office is a trading fund attached to the UK Government Department for Trade and Industry. I don't think this will be seen as a good appointment for free software companies, but I could be wrong. -- MJR/slef My Opinion Only and not of any group I know http://www.ttllp.co.uk/ for creative copyleft computing Please email about: BT alternative for line rental+DSL; Education on SMEs+EU FP6; office filing that works fast

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Open Letter: What does EC "support" mean?
by MJ Ray 11 Aug '04

11 Aug '04

I will probably send this to infso-desk(a)cec.eu.int in a few days, but I'd appreciate comments sooner, if you have them. This affects free software's ability to display and use interactive digital television services, such as Linux-based PVRs. I note with interest the publication of "Interactive TV : Commission reiterates its support for open and interoperable standards, but says implementation should not be made legally binding" at http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/1012&form… Please note that I don't really understand what this support entails, if it does not (for example) require public-funded broadcasters to implement an open interactive TV platform before any closed one. In the UK, the BBC has interactive TV on DVB-T which I think might be MHP-based (I can't receive it, being outside the coverage area), but the DVB-S domestic service on Astra2 uses the dominant proprietary Sky/OpenTV platform. The BBC hasn't even implemented a full DVB-SI EIT (7-day electronic programme guide) or DVB-TXT (teletext) on DVB-S, as I mentioned in http://mjr.towers.org.uk/blog/2004-5.html#bbcdsatstandards@2004-5.mjr.dsl.p… and elsewhere, so users wanting programmable Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) are almost forced to purchase Sky's + system instead of a DVB-standard set. Basic DVB-S equipment retails from around 80 pounds sterling, 33% cheaper than Sky, but has very little market share, as far as I can tell. For comparison, I believe German broadcasters - ARD, ZDF and various regional chains - broadcast DVB-TXT, fuller DVB-SI EIT and are developing MHP-based interactive services. Further, experience during visits to Germany suggests there is competition between manufacturers and retailers, both broadcaster-backed (Premiere, for example) and independent. Will the commission act against the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport's failure to ensure the BBC supports open and interoperable standards for its DVB-S services, under Article 18 of Directive 2002/21/EC? -- MJR/slef My Opinion Only and not of any group I know http://www.ttllp.co.uk/ for creative copyleft computing Please email about: BT alternative for line rental+DSL; Education on SMEs+EU FP6; office filing that works fast

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software patent link
by Daniel Koerner 09 Aug '04

09 Aug '04

Hi folks, I found a software patent "info" page on: http://www.eu-citizen.com/en/informatique.htm have fun. Daniel > (I need a job!) I wouldn't reject one, either ! :-)

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07 Aug '04

Hello, when I first read that britisch school kids should get education in copyright law, I first thought "wow great, at least they learn something reasonable". But then I followed the link and I saw what it really is about... it's all influenced by the music industry - and now guess in which direction it goes. :-( see: 'Stealing songs is wrong' lessons head for UK schools <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/05/uk_school_copyright_lessons/> Open Letter Against British Copyright Indoctrination in Schools: <http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/8/5/151113/8977> And before someone asks a stupid question: Of course it has to do with software - it's the same copyight law. Anything you can say about downloading music also applies to downloading software. (There is just less good free music yet than there is free software) -- AKFoerster (I need a job!)

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FSF Europe Newsletter
by FSF Europe 06 Aug '04

06 Aug '04

1. FSFE supporting European Commission in their case against Microsoft 2. Widely noticed interview in "Die Zeit" 3. Writing new licenses often counterproductive 4. RSS feeds for FSFE news and events available 5. FSFE supports the declaration of Caceres 6. Investigations on the impact of Free Software on companies 1. FSFE supporting European Commission in their case against Microsoft In 2001 the European Union, through the DG Competition of the European Commission (lead by Prof. Monti), started investigating Microsoft's dominant position in the desktop operating systems market. The Free Software Foundation Europe was invited by the EC to represent the interests of the Free Software movement. Together with the Samba team, which the FSFE involved in the case and with which it cooperated closely, we were able to provide much of the arguments that the European Commission based its decision upon. Microsoft recently appealed against the antitrust decision and the DG Competition called upon FSFE in cooperation with the Samba team again to now join the efforts of the Commission to defend that decision. FSFE, representing itself and the Samba team as well as the interests of the Free Software Community, has participated in the preliminary hearing held in Luxembourg on 27th of July. Sun, which originally started the antitrust trial in Europe, declined to participate to the appeal, so the list of the supporters of the Commission are: Novell, RealNetworks, CCIA (Computer & Communication Industry Association), SIIA (Software and Information Industry Association) and FSFE. In the course of the upcoming months, FSFE will read and comment on all the documentation submitted by Microsoft to sustain the idea that "disclosing documentation on interfaces and protocols is harmful" for their business and for consumers. These will be busy months, so if you know anybody that values being able to use SAMBA and could support our efforts, please tell them to support our work with their donation. <http://www.fsfeurope.org/help/donate.en.html> 2. Widely noticed interview in "DIE ZEIT" "DIE ZEIT", a well-respected German newspaper, has printed an interview with Georg Greve that has been cited in several other newspapers and news services. Georg Greve explains why software patents are job- and economy-killers: "Many companies are facing a low liquitidy and can spend their money only once: either on software patents, or on innovation." 3. Writing new licenses often counterproductive There seems to be a trend that more and more projects create new licenses for Free Software instead of using the well established ones used by thousands of existing projects. The FSFE emphasises that the GNU GPL, the GNU LGPL and the BSD-style license are excellent for most - if not all - projects. Claims that the GPL is not fully applicable outside the U.S. have been proven wrong by a recent court decision in Germany. 4. RSS feeds for FSFE news and events available Our web team has created automatic RSS feeds for news and upcoming events. Feeds are focus and language dependent. The URL for the news feed is: http://www.<focus>.fsfeurope.org/news/news.<language>.rss while you find the event feed at: http://www.<focus>.fsfeurope.org/events/events.<language>.rss For example, for German speaking news and the German focus, you would choose http://www.germany.fsfeurope.org/news/news.de.rss as the URL. For your convenience, the news and event pages contain links to the RSS feed URLs. 5. FSFE supports the "Declaration of Caceres" During the Free Software Summer Event of the University of Extremadura in Caceres, Spain, Georg Greve gave a presentation on the Free Software Foundation Europe and participated in a panel discussion about software patents. As closing highlight of the university course, the participants made the "Declaration of Caceres" against software patents drafted by Hispalinux, which was read out in Portuguese by Marcelo D'Elia Branco, German by Georg Greve, English by Maureen O'Sullivan and finally Spanish by the vice-rector of the University, Fernando Sanchez Figueroa. The FSFE officially supports this declaration, which reads: "Freedom, equality and fraternity, the old Europe's values applied to technology, have achieved the biggest innovative space ever imagined. Software Patents are the countermeasure that augments costs, bureaucracy and legal costs to stop European progress." 6. Investigations on the impact of Free Software on companies The University Bocconi in Milan, Italy held a conference to discuss the impact Free Software has on Italian companies. Stefano Maffulli was invited to hold a speech in the name of the FSFE. You can find a list of all FSF Europe newsletters on http://www.fsfeurope.org/news/newsletter.en.html

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Letter I have sent all Irish & British MEP's
by Alan McMahon 06 Aug '04

06 Aug '04

Do you happen to have an up-to-date email list for UK and Irish MEP's? I've just emailed all UKMEP's, but some are starting to bounce! Also, when is the date of the vote, and, is there anything I might say beyond my rather cobbled letter of today (attached) Regards Alan McMahon London W4

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Discussion August 2004